New School Buildings in Islington

Two new school buildings in Islington are already improving standards.

Highbury Grove and Samuel Rhodes Secondary have both benefitted from rebuilds as part of Islington's Building Schools for the Future programme.

Islington Council's executive member for children and young people, Councillor Richard Watts, says they will have an impact on learning, "Highbury Grove's excellent building now matches the fantastic quality of education that the school's students receive. As Islington schools get better and better, they are being helped along the way by the massive investment in new school buildings like Highbury Grove."

The two schools operate seperately but do share some facilities.

Head of Samuel Rhodes Secondary School, Julie Keylock, says the changes have definitely improved standards,"staff and pupils moved in to the new Samuel Rhodes School in September 2009 and in October Ofsted arrived! It didn't take them too long to comment that the school provided a 'calm, welcoming and reflective atmosphere' and that it is 'a setting for a fun environment and pupils are happy and excited about their learning'. Everyone who made this vision happen has made a great difference in the lives of our pupils and their families and should be very proud of that."